Recut Madness: Favorite Movies Retold for Your Partisan Pleasure [Hardcover]

James Finn Garner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 2007

Recut Madness is a retelling of the Hollywood Classics for red states and blue states. Hollywood movies purport to appeal to a mass audience, but in America today, half the population would see The Passion of the Christ while the other half sees Brokeback Mountain. Such an inclusive strategy is no longer realistic. In Recut Madness some of the most beloved classics are retailed for one side or the other. From a red state Wizard of Oz (aka The Decider of Oz) to a blue state Jaws, Garner has reinvented colorization for the new millennium.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Correct Bedtime Stories, Once Upon a More Enlightened Time, Politically Correct Holiday Stories, and Apocalypse Wow, which have sold more than 4 million copies and have been translated into 14 languages. His work has been published in Playboy, TV Guide, Chicago magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Tribune Magazine. He lives in Chicago.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; 1st Thunder's Mouth Press Ed edition (April 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568583362
• ISBN-13: 978-1568583365
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,368,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Finn Garner's best known book is "Politically Correct Bedtime Stories", which spent 64 weeks on the New York Times Best-seller list, including six weeks in the top position. The book was also a best-seller in England and Canada, and has been translated into more than 25 languages. Its sequels, "Once Upon A More Enlightened Time" and "Politically Correct Holiday Stories", were also best sellers sold around the world.

His most recent book is the seminal Clown Noir, "Honk Honk, My Darling: A Rex Koko, Private Clown Mystery." His other books include "Recut Madness: Favorite Films Retold for Your Partisan Pleasure" and "Apocalypse WOW: A Memoir for the End of Time".

A former columnist with Chicago Magazine, Garner has broadcast commentaries on National Public Radio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Another tiresome "effort" from JF Garner, September 30, 2007

By 

Jean E. Pouliot (Newburyport, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Recut Madness: Favorite Movies Retold for Your Partisan Pleasure (Hardcover)

I have all but given up the hope that Mr. Garner will write another volume with the charm and hilarity of his "Politically Correct Bedtime Stories." Luckily, since I believe I have read all of his works, here is none left for me to try.

This very small book rewrites a variety of popular movies -- Pulp Fiction, Charlotte's Web, Network, etc. -- to satisfy the point of view of someone from a Red State (Republican) or Blue State (Democrat). There is promise in this approach to satirize both the left, the right. This is a common stance of the popular media writer -- see Time, Newsweek or your large hometown newspaper -- that provides vague satisfaction to both camps. But Garner evidently has neither he wit nor the insight to make more of his approach than to offer dimly-snarky --and very short! -- rewrites. His "Wizard of Dubya" is a huge ripoff of the original. All of its characters -- Dorothy, Auntie Em, Miss Gulch, Glinda, the WW of the W and the munchkins are preserved nearly untouched, as is the plot. You might think he would call the Yellow Brick Road something different, at least. His satiric darts pierce no pretensions and flit about aimlessly and without point. Alas, Mr. Garner's only goal seems to be to put yet another book into print, and to wend his swag-loaded wheelbarrow gleefully to the bank.

My advice? Don't even bother with "Recut Madness." You and you friends are twice as funny at lunchtime.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clever, wity, relevent., July 24, 2007

By 

Cobert-Stewart '08 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Recut Madness: Favorite Movies Retold for Your Partisan Pleasure (Hardcover)

Recut Madness is a unique blend of current events, satire, and popular culture. I enjoyed the sheer absurdity and of having Forest Gump find a downed National Guard pilot who bears a striking resemblance to one G.W. Bush. as well as the anachronistic, but perfectly executed, piece based on Spartacus. The main feature, The Wizard of Dubya is, in its self, funny and complet enough to have been a stand alone piece.

This book was well researched well written and points out the stupidity on both sides of the American political system. I highly recommend this read to anyone, regardless of weather or not they have seen all the movies lampooned in this book, though it would help.

1.0 out of 5 stars Unfunny and Tedious, July 21, 2011

By 

Judah (Terre Haute In USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Recut Madness: Favorite Movies Retold for Your Partisan Pleasure (Hardcover)

The only way Garner got away with publishing this was under 'fair use' as a parody. I hated this collection because it was all 'Democrats/Liberal Issue this' and 'Republicans/Conservative Issue that' instead of good writing. Garner steals the plots of old movies, doesn't change any names, botches the endings, and I found no pleasure in his partisanship. He overdoes hyperbole, and if it's a choice between a hack political joke and story structure, he makes the cliche joke. After reading, felt like some of my favorites movies were ruined.

Do not buy.